got to be mature about it. A couple of years ago, I would have probably stayed in the hous

got to be mature about it. A couple of years ago, I would have probably stayed in the hous

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Bethanie Mattek-Sands figures shell retire the stars-and-stripes socks and frame them with her gold medal.In an all-American mixed doubles final Sunday, Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock won the title as first-time Olympians. And they did it against an opponent who has won as many medals -- and as many golds -- as any tennis player in history.Mattek-Sands and Sock beat Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram to deny Williams a record fifth gold. With the silver, Williams still tied the Olympic mark with her fifth medal; Kathleen McKane also won five (one gold) in the 1920s.Williams owns one singles gold and three in doubles with sister Serena, but she was upset in the first round in Rio de Janeiro in both tournaments while battling a virus. Her Olympics were seemingly over since she wasnt originally expected to compete in mixed doubles.Ram, meanwhile, wasnt even originally supposed to be in Rio. The 32-year-old was added to his first Olympic roster a few days before the opening ceremony, when the 2012 mens doubles gold medalists, Bob and Mike Bryan, withdrew.Sock was also sick before arriving in Rio -- he was diagnosed with walking pneumonia shortly before departing. And he, too, was upset in the first round in singles, sounding afterward more like a tourist than a medal contender.I wanted to enjoy the experience, soak it all up, he recalled Sunday.He soaked up two medal ceremonies, also winning bronze with Steve Johnson in mens doubles.For the 31-year-old Mattek-Sands, who like Sock has won major titles in both doubles and mixed doubles, colorful knee-high socks are a signature fashion statement. The American flag set she wore Sunday was not an Olympic original; she debuted them at a past U.S. Open.It was kind of a last-minute pack, she said. I was like, `You know what? I think this is the moment. If Im going to go hard-core USA, its going to be at the Olympics. So I pulled them out for the match today.Her playing partner couldnt help but make the obvious pun -- shed be framing some socks alongside a medal she won with a guy named Sock.They laughed and high-fived, and Mattek-Sands said, Its too perfect to actually not do that.The two American teams split the finals two sets, then Mattek-Sands and Sock won the match tiebreaker 10-7. It could have been the last Olympic outing of Williams career, though she wouldnt rule out a sixth Games as a 40-year-old in 2020.Its totally about whether I want to be there, whether I want to continue to work this hard, she said.The same question was posed to Martina Hingis, who turns 36 next month and also lost in the womens doubles Sunday with Swiss teammate Timea Bacsinszky to Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina by a score of 6-4, 6-4.Way back in 1997, Williams played in her first major final at the U.S. Open, defeated by Hingis. A year earlier, Hingis took part in the Atlanta Games -- and she hadnt been to another Olympics until now, two decades later.On Sunday, both Williams and Hingis won silver, the first career medal for the Swiss star -- a feat that takes on extra resonance after she repeatedly came out of retirement.When youre winning Grand Slams, No. 1 in the world, at 16, you think you have another 10 years at least at the top of the game, she said. Now I know its coming toward the end.How soon is the end? Hingis didnt want to talk about 2020, even though Bacsinszky is trying to recruit her for the Tokyo Games.The Olympics were always a goal for Makarova and Vesnina. They insisted the Games were bigger than their two major titles together. They took it so seriously that Makarova was crying when she didnt play well in practice.I just really wanted this medal and I was emotional: `Why am I not playing my best tennis right now? she recalled.They played their best tennis at the right time. 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Dan Biggar believes that public criticism is part and parcel of the game as Wales look to bounce back from their Wallabies walloping when they tackle Argentina on Saturday.But the Wales fly-half has also cited a famous number 10 from another sport - England football captain Wayne Rooney - as an example of when he feels things can go too far.Rooney has unusually been a substitute for Manchester United several times this season and was also on the bench for England in their World Cup qualifier against Slovenia - a combination of events which sparked sometimes fierce critical comment about him.Biggar and company also faced headlines of the wrong type this week following a 32-8 defeat against Australia that was Wales heaviest home defeat for 10 years.I am not on social media, but of course you pick up little things and what people say in articles and that, but for me, its just part and parcel of the game, said Biggar, who wins his 50th cap this weekend.The way I look at it, Im in a great position.Imagine being someone like Wayne Rooney over the last three months and the press, their disgusting treatment of one of Englands better players. If I think Im having a tough time, just look at him.Living and playing in Wales can be very much a goldfish bowl. Sometimes, it can be nice to be outside of that and get on with your day-to-day life.But I dont take any notice of the criticism and, ultimately, everyone wants Wales to do well and get better.If everyone had gone out there and not tried (last Saturday) and rolled over, been lax and not hurt by it, fair enough, but it is not as if we werent trying.Its always easier to slow the tape down and criticise after the event.We were hugely disappointed, weve spoken very honestlly about it, but now its about focusing on Argentina, putting a better performance in, enjoying ourselves a bit more and taking a little bit of pressure off ourselves.ddddddddddddWhat Ive learnt over the years is that you cannot change peoples opinions.I watched a little bit of the football last Sunday, went out for food with my wife and did normal things. Was it going to change the result if we stayed in hiding for two days? Is it going to change what people say?Its not going to change a thing. You have just got to be mature about it. A couple of years ago, I would have probably stayed in the house and drawn the curtains.Biggar will be key to Wales hopes of posting a first Test match win since March, aiming to pull the tactical strings for a much-changed team that sees no Jamie Roberts, but Roberts fellow British and Irish Lions Test players Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones both returning.Recent history in the fixture favours Wales, having beaten Argentina in four of the countries last five meetings, but Biggar knows a powerful Pumas challenge awaits.Argentina have got a Super Rugby franchise now, they were semi-finalists and finished fourth at the World Cup last year and they have got some world-class players, he added.We will have to put in a very good performance - certainly better than last week - to pick up a result.The way they play the game, there is going to be plenty of off-loads, and I wouldnt have thought there would be too much kicking from them. 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